Abstract: An automated system for concentrating potentially harmful substances from various water types or other non-viscous liquids to facilitate detection of those substances is disclosed herein. The automated system comprises a water pressure driven or pump driven concentration unit that filters the test fluid through a hollow-fiber filter. Material collected on the filter is backflushed into a collection vessel by passing a small volume of sterile solution through the filter in the reverse direction. The automated system can be configured to be portable or to be integrated into a continuous liquid stream for online monitoring of test fluids. Optionally, an electronic signal at the end of the backflush sequence triggers a detector, such as an automated array biosensor, to begin processing and analyzing the sample.

Abstract: An in-line water monitoring system for the detection of the accidental or intentional introduction of potentially harmful substances. The automated system comprises a water pressure driven concentration unit that filters drinking water through a hollow-fiber filter. Material collected on the filter is backflushed into a collection vessel by passing a sterile solution through the filter in the reverse direction. An electronic signal at the end of the backflush sequence triggers a sensor such as an array biosensor to begin processing and analyzing the sample. The array biosensor houses a slide prepared with antibodies to the test organism. The array biosensor is programmed to automatically run sample and detection reagents over the slide, analyze the resulting pattern for positive and negative data, and report the results.